Dade County commissioners spent substantial time reviewing code enforcement and inspection practices, seeking a clearer, enforceable regime for electrical inspections, sedimentation (soil erosion) controls and a proposed three‑stage temporary/moderate/permanent electrical hookup process for new construction.

Why it matters: Commissioners said inconsistent local enforcement has produced safety concerns and left residents and contractors unclear about the county's expectations. The board emphasized it must balance public safety, legal obligations under state standards and the practical burden on residents and local contractors.

Stacy (code enforcement) told commissioners Dade currently inspects meter bases for Georgia Power hookups and handles temporary and permanent power, but the county lacks a formal intermediate or "moderate" step used by nearby jurisdictions. "If we let them have the moderate power, they don't have to have everything finished on the inside," Stacy said, describing a middle stage that contractors use elsewhere to keep work moving without giving final permanent power before septic is installed.

Licensed electrician Doug McBryer urged enforcement and licensing checks. "The first page of the National Electric Code says the code is the minimum requirement. Dade County has less than a minimum requirement," McBryer said, citing instances of undersized wiring left behind drywall and calling for licensed practitioners to perform critical work.

Commissioners discussed permit fees and inspection capacity. Staff said current local permit charges are low compared with neighboring counties (examples cited: City of Trenton $85 for an electrical permit vs Dade County $35 for a 200‑amp service), and that multiple return inspections quickly erode any revenue from low permit fees. The county indicated it will not immediately raise fees but will examine fee levels so permit revenue better covers inspection workloads.

The board directed Stacy to work with the county health department and present a written definition and operational procedure for "beginning, moderate, and final" electrical hookup stages before the next meeting; commissioners asked for forms and enforcement rules to be ready before a planned January rollout. Commissioners also emphasized enforcement must be consistent across trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, framing, erosion control) and called for clear penalties and processes to avoid perceived harassment of property owners.

Ending: Commissioners set a near‑term deadline for staff to produce a written, cross‑departmental enforcement standard and clarified that the county's role as the Local Issuing Authority (LIA) for sedimentation control places responsibility on the county to respond to EPD (Environmental Protection Division) referrals. They said the goal is local control and to limit direct state enforcement where the county can act.